Bradley releases plan to fight drinking

Wednesday

Apr 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 30, 2008 at 12:51 AM

With the alcohol-related deaths of two Bradley students over the past eight months and the memory of senior Robert Schmalz, who literally drank himself to death in September 2003, still fresh in the minds of some on campus, the uses and misuses of alcohol by college students and how to alter that culture are now being magnified.

Dave Haney

Seth Katz can attest to what Bradley University students often gab about in class on a Friday afternoon. Fliers handed out across the quad and advertisements in the student newspaper spell it out.

"Alcohol is endemic to the (college) culture," said Katz, an assistant professor of English at the school.

What's going on at Bradley is the same as what is going on at universities across the country and has for years.

But with the alcohol-related deaths of two Bradley students over the past eight months and the memory of senior Robert Schmalz, who literally drank himself to death in September 2003, still fresh in the minds of some on campus, the uses and misuses of alcohol by college students and how to alter that culture are now being magnified.

A Bradley task force, formed three months ago and charged with crafting solutions and positive reinforcements, unveiled a 30-plus-page set of recommendations Tuesday. Included among them is creating late-night, on-campus entertainment alternatives to attending drinking parties, expanding alcohol-awareness education programs - concentrating those efforts on incoming freshmen - and implementing a host of university penalties and fines for those who violate the rules.

"These recommendations are a substantive and serious effort to curtail the use and misuse of alcohol on our campus and in our community," Bradley President Joanne Glasser said. "Our goal is to provide a safe living and learning environment for students during their time at Bradley."

The university may also consider eliminating on-campus advertising of alcohol and drink specials.

A 2006 health assessment survey by the American College Health Association showed Bradley student results closely mirrored those of the larger, national picture. Of the 501 respondents at Bradley, about 73 percent of students answered they drank alcohol within the last 30 days; and 31 percent of students reported drinking five or more drinks at the last party they attended. That's compared to about 80 percent of respondents saying they had consumed alcohol recently nationwide and about 44 percent reporting having engaged in binge drinking.

Still, some Bradley students say they already know the message.

"No matter what they do, some kids are not going to stop (drinking) - it's an individual choice," said sophomore Brett Buttliere.

Allison Howard, a senior, said students already are inundated with alcohol awareness education. "I think no matter how hard they push, the reality is we know the consequences. We get it, we see things."

Howard, 20, wondered whether some sort of volunteer student escort service might dissuade some from walking or driving home after drinking.

Freshmen Amanda Aspan, 18, and Britlynn Lonergan, 19, thought Bradley already is strict compared to what goes on at many other larger, public universities.

"I think everything (at Bradley) is magnified," said Aspan.

Katz, a member of the college task force as well as a resident in the adjacent Uplands neighborhood, said the new guidelines are just what some students need, and that the university should take a "more parental role."

While the professor had very few complaints of drinking parties getting out of hand where he lives, the university's plans also call for forming a "good neighbor program," with the goal of helping students respect neighbors and reduce conflicts.

"It is our responsibility to address this here and now," Glasser said. ". . . to make a difference on campus and in the community."

Bradley spokeswoman Kath Conver said the plan's recommendations will be enacted beginning in June during the university's annual two-day orientation program for incoming freshmen.